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In the SWC, a season could be made by the results of one game. TEXAS. It was October 17, 1981, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville before a crowd of 44,031 that would see the Hogs have there biggest defeat over Texas ever, while forcing seven turnovers on the #1 rated Longhorns who showed up to the game with a 4-0 record. Behind the leadership of Ruston, LA native quarterback Tom Jones, fullback Jesse Clark, running back Gary Anderson, defensive end Billy Ray Smith, Jr., kicker Bruce Lahay, and all of the other great players of the 1981 squad, Arkansas would completely dominate both the offensive and defensive areas of the game to defeat the Longhorns by a score of 42-11. Coming into the game opponents had only been allowed an average of 8.5 points per game. No matter what happened for the rest of the season, it was now secured as successful with the WIN over Texas.During the game, Texas amassed 20 first downs on 86 offensive plays and 421 yards. Arkansas had 17 first downs on 78 plays for 323 yards. Prior to this game, Texas was rated at #4 for yards allowed per game by yielding only 196.3 yards per game. Time of possession favored the Hogs though the game by having almost 35 minutes to 25 for Texas. The big stat came from the turnovers where the Hogs dominated by picking off four and stealing three fumbles.

QB Tom Jones. Click to enlarge

Kickoff was at 2:45 on an overcast 70 degree day with the wind out of the south at 15 mph. The game was shown on tv as it was televised on ABC Sports. Arkansas would initially receive the kickoff which was quickly downed in the end zone and placed on the 20. On first down, fullback Jesse Clark carried over right tackle to the 46 yard line. This would set the tempo, although the Hogs would not score on this possession. However, on Texas' first play of the game, Billy Ray Smith, Jr. would come up big from his right defensive end position and give the ball back to the Hogs after a fumble recovery providing Texas' first turnover of the game.

Jones would now throw a screen to the right flat for Gary Anderson who would take it from the 16 down to the 1 yard line for first and goal. With 11:06 left in the first quarter, Jones followed center for the last yard to put the Hogs up by six. The PAT failed, so the scoreboard would sit at Arkansas 6, Texas 0.

The storm clouds would continue to hover over Texas when with 9:12 left in the quarter they were forced to punt from the 8 yard line. Things kept going from bad to worse as they suffered a bad snap that sailed over the punter's head and out of the end zone. Arkansas was now up 8-0.

With a little over three minutes left in the quarter, Texas found themselves at their own two yard line when they coughed up the ball at the five. It didn't take long when on first down, Gary Anderson goes around the right side for six with 2:54 showing on the clock. The quarter ended with the Hogs up 15-0.

The rout continued as with only 11 seconds gone in the second quarter, Bruce Layhay nails his first of two field goals for a 47 yarder making the scoreboard show the Hogs leading by a score of 18-0.

On their next possession, Texas would drive the length of the field in 11 plays and finally get on the board when with 9:25 left in the half, they would kick a 24 yard field goal. Finally they would have something besides a goose egg to look at on the scoreboard as it would now indicate Arkansas 18, Texas 3. Not respectable, but at least something.

With third and eighteen from the Arkansas 11, Jones would call his own number for a quarterback draw. The ball is snapped, Jones drops back to pass, pulls the ball in and scrambles left to the Texas 48. The Razorbacks would not score, but it would force Texas back deep into their own territory. After another Texas turnover via pass interception by safety Kim Dameron at the Texas 41, Arkansas would once again take over at the Texas 36. Five plays later, with 20 seconds left in the half, after looking right to the tight end Jones would find Anderson alone at the left front corner of the end zone. The 19 yard pass from Jones would tack on six more for the second score of the day by Anderson. At halftime the scoreboard would proudly show Arkansas 25, Texas 3. The first half had been Arkansas, Arkansas, Arkansas ...

"By now the nation's number one team was completely shocked as the Hogs had completely dominated in turnovers and field position."

The second half would begin with Texas receiving the initial kickoff and returning it only to the six yard line. On third and eight they were only able to reach the nine after being brought down by Smith. Following the punt, Jones would set up shop at the Texas 44 yard line. After moving to the 32, Jones would go right and hit wide receiver Derek Holloway along the sideline to the 17. From here the Hogs would move down to the four yard line, where Jones would keep and go left on first and goal into the end zone for the first TD of the second half making the score Arkansas 32, Texas 3. The drive required 8 plays and took 3:16 off the clock. By now the nation's number one team was completely shocked as the Hogs had completely dominated in turnovers and field position.

The turnovers kept coming as linebacker Jeff Goff would intercept a pass at the Texas 40. This would go along with his earlier fumble recovery giving him two turnovers for the afternoon. Seven plays later, running back Darryl Bowles would go left after spinning out of a dive up the middle to go the final 19 yards and add on six more points. It was now Arkansas 39, Texas 3. The third quarter would bring an interception in the Arkansas end zone by cornerback Danny Walters to prevent a Longhorn score and again give the Razorbacks possession of the pigskin for the fifth Texas turnover. Unable to score, Arkansas was now finished adding to their tab for the third quarter. By now, Texas was limping and hoping that the game would soon be over.During the fourth quarter, Texas would go deep from just outside of their 15 yard line to the Hog 37 where Walters would make his second pass interception of the day. He would return it to the Arkansas 49. Six plays later, All-American kicker Bruce Lahay would tack on the final Arkansas score a 37 yard field goal with 9:46 left in the game. Arkansas 42, Texas 3.Texas would make one last ditch effort resulting in a TD and two point conversion within the final minute of the game. The goal post came down as the fans celebrated the complete domination of the nation's number one team. But, what made it really special was that it happened to be TEXAS on our own home ground. As the clock wound down on this Saturday, the scoreboard proclaimed Arkansas 42, Texas 11. It didn't happen often, but when it did, Razorback fans were truly in Hog Heaven.

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Keep the history of Hog football alive, don't let it disappear. The new e-book available describes the history of the Razorback football program. It tells of the coaches, legends, "Voices of the Razorbacks", traditions, and of course, the memorable games (most of which have not been previously discussed on hawg-tales.com). This is the first e-book telling about the complete Razorback football program. The e-book is now available through Smashwords.com (click to visit the world's largest distributor of e-books), the Apple iStore, Barnes and Nobles (barnesandnoble.com), Kobo, etc. and is available for virtually all e-readers, smart phones, tablets, and computers. Look for 'Hit That Line!' ."

Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past. Also, be sure and take a look at the FREE sample of the new e-book "HIT THAT LINE!" (click here) about the total history of the Razorback football program.

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